Multi-tiered rack units



Aug. 25, 1959- JAMES 2,901,121

MULTI-TIERED RACK UNITS Filed Sept. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j/ (4/ 5 7 I l 6 2 Aug. 25, 1959 D. M. JAMES 2,901,121

I MULTI-TIERED RACK UNITS Filed Sept. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent MULTI-TIERED RACK UNITS David Maldon James, Sussex, England, assignor to Beanstalk Shelving Limited, Sussex, England, a British com- P y Application September 16, 1957, Serial No. 684,123 4 Claims. (Cl. 211-126) This invention relates to multi-tiered rack units and the like and is concerned with a generally improved self-supporting unit of this nature which can be readily assembled, into an extremely rigid and durable structure, from basic components designed to pack into a relatively small storage space.

Accordingly the invention provides a multi-tiered rack or like unit comprising a number of rimmed wire mesh trays, baskets or like containers supported in superposed relationship by rigid posts which extend through aligned openings in said containers adjacent the container rims, a connection between a post and container being eifected by attachment means arranged to hold the post firmly against the inside of the container rim and by a bearing member which is located on the post and engages part of the container mesh at a location spaced from the aforesaid rim.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into elfect, an embodiment thereof will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows part of an assembled corner post and tray in a multi-tiered rack unit according to the invention, the tray being in chain dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a plan view according to Figure 1, and

Figure 3 shows an assembled rack unit on a reduced scale.

Referring now to the drawings, the tray corner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 constitutes one of four substantially identical corners of a tray having a generally rectangular base 1 and side walls 2 which have a slight outward inclination from the base. The side walls 2 are secured around their upper edges to a substantial rectangular rim 3 which extends around the mouth of the tray. In the formation of a rack unit as shown in Figure 3, a series of such trays, all of similar size and shape, are supported one above the other in spaced substantially parallel relationship, with the rims uppermost by four rigid corner posts 4 of any desired length, two of these posts being seen in the figure.

To connect a tray corner to the adjoining post 4, the latter is passed inside the tray rim 3 through a corner opening 5 formed by the normal mesh structure of the tray and is secured to the inside of the adjoining tray rim corner by attachment means in the form of a bolt 6 which is retained by nuts 7. For this purpose the bolt 6 is passed through registering preformed apertures 3' and 4 provided in the rim 3 and post section 4.

To supplement the aforesaid bolted connection between the post section and tray rim, a bearing sleeve 8 is located on the post section opposite the tray corner. This sleeve is provided with a concentric semicylindrical extension Sa at the upper end which embraces a portion of the post section remote from the tray rim corner and is apertured for attachment to the post section by the corner bolt 6 and adjoining nut 7 The axial length of the sleeve 8 approximately equals the tray depth and, at the lower sleeve end, is provided an inclined bearing member 9 which is directed inwardly of the tray when the sleeve is bolted as aforesaid. This member 9 is "ice pressed firmly against the outside of the lower tray corner below the tray rim corner at which the upper sleeve end is bolted and is conveniently constituted by a hollow boxlike foot secured to the sleeve.

It will be appreciated that a corner connection as described is provided at each of the four corners of each tray so that each corner post has a number of such connections spaced axially therealong to correspond with the number of trays in the rack. The arrangement of the corner connection ensures that each tray is firmly positioned on each post at two axially spaced locations whereby the assembled unit can be made extremely rigid and capable of carrying relatively heavy loads.

Bearing sleeves as described can be operatively positioned in a very simple manner when the units are assembled, it being merely necessary to slide such sleeves over a post end. Furthermore, the sleeves are readily removable from the posts to permit convenient packaging of the component parts of a rack for transport or storage purposes. The rack unit has been described throughout as applied to wire mesh trays but it is, of course, equally applicable to rimmed wire mesh baskets and other similar containers. The units are, of course, also equally applicable to trays and the like having three or more than four sides.

If it is desired to provide the rack of the invention with compartments which are substantially pilfer-proof, this can readily be done by positioning alternate trays upside down on the posts, as shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 3, so that the mouths of adjoining trays can be brought face to face and in abutting narrowly spaced relationship. A padlock can then be arranged to embrace adjoining mouth rims to maintain this relationship and prevent access to the inside of the closed container thus formed.

In order to enable the spacing between superposed trays to be readily varied, alternative sets of apertures may be formed in the posts at different axially spaced intervals to receive the retaining bolts.

I claim:

1. A collapsible tiered tray assembly comprising a plurality of rigid support posts each extending over the full height of the assembly, a plurality of trays, each having a base, rimmed side walls and upper corners, the trays being supported in superposed relationship by said posts, which latter pass through aligned openings defined by the trays, at said corners, means detachably connecting each tray rim to each post, and bearing members projecting from the posts at intervals and bearing against the supported trays at locations spaced from the tray rims.

-2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the said bearing members each comprise a projecting foot and a tubular part supporting the foot and encircling a post and secured against axial movement along the post by an associated one of the tray rim connecting means.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the trays are substantially rectangular and of wire mesh, the side walls inclining outwardly from the associated base to connect with the associated rim.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which alternate trays are in inverted position on the posts to provide closures for the underlying trays.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 893,786 Collis July 21, 1908 2,603,361 James July 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,395 Great Britain Nov. 20, 1894 

